I have a couple friends at Harpoon that I'll bring this all up to.
I'm sure once they see that we're concerned they'll rethink it all.

Sounds like OTW turned this tournament over to a publicity firm to run the tournament. Trying to make it the best that they could. someone just didn't realize the impact that it was going to have.

I don't believe that OTW is any less concerned about BASS than anyone on this site. No BASS not much OTW.

My hunch is there is going to be a board room meeting very shortly to revise the tournament to make it much better (for the bass).

We need to express our concerns but in a constructive way and directly to OTW. They have tooooooo much to loose.

If the rules aren't modified, we'll just sick CLAMMER on them!

Just athought,how does one fish every 10 days sound?Entrants would have reason to be selective in what they keep.Sure would hate to weigh in a 30# fish and 5 days later land a45# with no chance for even a pin.Whoever thinks this is too many fish should join PETA!!IPAIPAIPAIPAIPAIPAIPAIPAIPAIPA

I think you know what I meant by referring back to the 1980's. You know - the time in the 1980's when few could even catch a bass.

That's a pretty cavalier attitude - "worry about any problems later"...

45 inch minimum length.. enter all the aplications into a drawing to win the big prizes, and the winner of the biggist fish gets a trophy and a case of beer.

correction- winner of biggist bass gets a years supply of beer :cheers:

I'd settle for my favorite Winter Warmer, delivered via Kegerator, for six months of the year (seeing its only made for three :wavey: )

Folks - this is good discussion, let's keep the discussion good. Megabyte - good points...

That is not a fishing contest, sounds like a lottery. The largest fish should be tied to the awards somehow..

How about, only count fish over 50#. That will cut the numbers down. A 20 or 30#er is no trophy fish. Biggest fish wins... big prize and trophy in each div and must submit to a polygraph. Fail the polygraph and you get nothing except shame from your fellow fishermen as your name will be plastered in OTW as a cheater. Have a surf, kayak and power boat div. No 50's caught...nobody wins the big prizes and the prizes roll over (in value) to next season...so next year they give away a 29' regulator loaded instead of a boat too small to use in most of the NE waters.

After thinking about it perhaps instead of a weight limit, it should be length...45 or 50 inches. this way, you don't have to weigh the fish and you can release them alive...but you still have to do a polygraph and risk social humilation from your peers if you cheat.

my idea does sound like a lottery, but it would cut down on cheating. I do like your polygraph idea though.. very very smart idea.

There can be a 800 telephone number, for example
(1-800-KILL-FISH ) :call: that you call to find the latest statistics for the month.
This will be a recorded message that gives the largest fish (lbs., girth and length). If the fish that you catch exceeds this amount then it will be the largest. The certified weight station will have access to this 800 number to record a message with the next largest fish.
If you don't have a scale then the girth and weight will give you a ball park weight to determine if you should release or bring to the weight station.

I believe that this may be the better alternative .

_________________________________________
I subscribe to OTW and just recently updated for a new year plus a new hat, I hope I can wear it in pride.
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There is a omen in all of this which is the "harpoon" was the weapon the was used that made the whales nearly extinct. Now it is "Harpoon Brewery"

I am in it. Already signed up. Will I be registering 34 inch fish? No,I would be embarrased to haul in a fish to be weighed as small as that. Has Stripers Forvever got you all in a mind control cult? Commercial guys must love this debate. Bigfish, call me, you can fish with me anytime.

Expect the phone to ring Steve! :)

If course your in, you wound not bite the hand that feeds you, would you ?
I still like your articles.

I find it hard to believe that they would turn it all over to a publicity firm, and not do their homework.

Somewhere there are lots of villages searching for their idiots.I'm not sure how many 50's are confirmed every year but trust me,the number is extremely limited.The trophy is the problem here,talk of a S-B team and dominiation:whackin: ,come on now it's a web sight not a fishing club, until some individuals thought they could get an edge on the prize as a club.A 35 # fish that is shore caught is worth bragging about,a forty+ will get you in on monthly action.We can make this thing work.I don't fish alot but my catches over 30# last year from shore were single digits.Take away the fall and that number goes down signifigantly.A reasonable format will provide the groundwork for a great contest.:ss:

You are assuming that I was somehow "forced" into this? Are you that Naive? I joined cause I wanted to. I know the real odds. Saltheart and the rest must have an inside track. Your statement is an insult. You don't know me and your idiotic post proves it.

I must say....many were all Gung Ho until someone actually read the rules!:smash: You can fish this contest many different ways.....perhaps the rules read poorly but if you all fish this contest with the same good fishing habits you all claim to have....it should work out for all. I belong to MSBA and our club preaches catch and release. I know they would not like the membership out there weighing 2 34 inch fish a week just to balloon the points total......that truely would be shameful and what club could be proud of so much waste? As stated before.....fish within yourself, practice all that has been taught to us through the years by many. I do not like the accrued points portion of the contest, but that does not mean I am not going to participate. I am going to fish this season as a registered participant and maybe that one nice fish will come....and if it does, depending on what the leading fish is at that particular time (I will be keeping tabs so I know I do not kill a fish for no good reason) I may weigh in that special fish and see if I can do that wonderful fish proud. I would probably keep that fish anyway regardless of the contest so why not add a nice pin to the accomplishment of landing a good fish.....of course I am talking about that 40 plus pounder that I have not caught yet. It has been a goal of mine for awhile and if it comes, I have a right to keep it and do with it as I see fit! If however it will not put me in the lead at that time....I will have a decision to make.....to keep it for myself or take a few photos, weigh it on my Berkley and release it to fight another day! This is how it can and should be done!

Also Redsoxticket....don't knock the man for doing what he feels is right.....especially if you do not know the man. You will do what you think is right and that can't be a bad thing.:)

What if the club tournament was not based on total lbs, but based upon the number of pin fish, but add one further restriction that each person can only weigh in 1 fish in each pin slot, ie 1 @30#, 1 @40#, 1 @50# etc...

For most of us that would probably mean we'd only weigh 1 fish, 2 if we're really lucky. An angler who could nail one in each of the slots would be your angler of the year.

*** let's move this back to discussion on the issue, not at a personal level ***

What happened to the intelligent dialogue?:read:

:humpty: Straight up, correctamundo, Mr. Flap.
A MA Commercial will win - probably someone we know.
They fish the fish the most.
They're the hungriest.
They're the most competitive.
They have the largest talent pool.
They have biggest pile of dead fish to cull from.
The dates favor the best part of their run.
They're not boycotting.

Culling was the only concern I have.....they can choose from the big pile after their haul.......anyone with a commercial license should be excluded.:huh:

I don't know what you mean that I must have an inside track.

Ditto

I think the slot idea is a good one, sort of like playing cricket!

-spence

I'm pretty sure I'm in the wrong part of the chat forum ,but I'm looking for info reguarding striperfishing in dennis port this time of year

*** let's move this back to discussion on the issue, not at a personal level ***

Wheres Slipknot to quote me, when you need him?

I was wondering when this was going to storm up unreasonably.

Sunny and getting warmer :love:

Hmmm

Lets get back on track people.